Odds and Ends...and Jacks and Steves, and Nicks

My mind is all over the place right now, but there is no shortage of material packed in up there (despite popular belief).

First off, I would like to sympathize for all of my Pittsburgh and northern friends who are enduring this crazy storm. I have never seen anything like it! I do recall a few storms that I experienced growing up, but this monster takes the cake. The thought of shoveling makes me nauseous and everyone I know is complaining of a sore back from lifting tons of the stuff from their property. I really hope the 6 weeks that P. Phil predicted goes by quickly for those of you suffering through this winter blast. Just know that you all have an open invite to visit any time...and Charlotte might not be tropical, but it sure beats the arctic up there!

Next of mind would be the lovely weekend I just had! One of my oldest and dearest friends, Jack came to visit. Lydia and I hosted him for 2 days of hysterical laughter. Though it got off ot a rocky start with a dead car battery at the airport and a flight delay, it wasn't moments into our reunion that Jack had us laughing so hard we cried. We had a wonderful group dinner at Vivace, a new restaurant in the Metropolitan. Aside from being delicious and affordable, it gave Jack the chance to catch up with us and meet some new people in our lives. Both Lydia and I have boyfriends who got to meet and know our darling Jack. It was exciting to have my first friend (and one of my closest friends) from home meet Steve, my boyfriend. Jack has seen and heard of a slew of guys through the years who have come and gone...most weren't worthy of meeting Jack, but this time it was(is) different. It was best put by Jack himself...

" I am so happy that you girls have both found people that make you happy. Especially you, Age. For so long I would get calls from you saying 'oh, I met this guy and I really like him, but he disappeared and now I can't find him"

Needless to say, Jack was thrilled to meet Steve and gave me his seal of approval. Steve also seemed to really like Jack...they hit it off over discussions about the media and it was an easy sell, on both sides. I am not surprised, but quite happy with what I figured would be a great introductory meeting.

Aside from dinner and meeting the boyfriends, we also had a little wine and appetizer party for our girlfriends. Of course Jack fits right in. It was perfect...good food, wonderful wine, and the best company. Our last guests left at 2:30am and the entire time was enjoyed by all. I have such amazing friends that surround me. I feel so blessed!

This coming weekend is Valentines Day, a holiday I have loathed for years. Cupid and I have never quite seen eye-to-eye and for years there have been less than fairlytale endings to this holiday. I don't expect a fairytale ending this year either, but I plan on embracing it. Last year I vomited cheesecake all over a poor, helpless, guy because I was cornered with committment fear and pressure. This year is vastly different...I have some surprises up my sleeve for Steve and none involve cheesecake or upchuck. I am looking forward to enjoying it with someone special :)

Lastly, my final portion revolves around the less appealing part of this upcoming weekend. Nick Cicci, Lydia's little brother, and my adopted brother is leaving Charlotte to move back to PA. He found a great job opportunity. I am really happy for him, but selfishly sad that he won't be here to enjoy the southern family time like we have had for the past couple of years. From concerts, to Superbowls, to Sunday dinners Nick has been an asset to our little dysfunctional family in Charlotte and it's hard to see him go. I will forever think of him when I see a wolf shirt or a beer bong. "Me too Nick!" To celebrate his new ventures and pay tribute to the good times we have shared, we are having a little going-away party for him tomorrow evening at Strike City. Jello shots anyone?

Other things to mention----the Olympics begin Friday. The Westminster Dog Show is also this week (YAY!!!). The Saints won the Super Bowl on Sunday. I am meeting Steve's Dad and Step Mom this coming Sunday. Nicci is coming to visit next weekend. Sheesh! I can't keep up!

Ode to Phil

Today is Groundhog Day. For most of the nation this means little. I didn't realize how little it meant until I moved away from the homeland of the world's most famous slumbering groundhog. The mystery of whether Punxsutawney Phil would see his shadow was the question on every one's mind in the day leading up to G.H.D. and first and foremost when you awoke on February 2nd. It was rare that he didn't see his shadow, but the suspense was killer none the less. Here, in the lovely and much more temperate south (aside from this past weekend in which the city was coated with 4 inches of ice and snow) there isn't much fanfare given to old Phil. I would bet that most people might not even know his name. And, if they do it's likely because of Bill Murray and the movie in the early 90's which paid tribute to this overly unrecognized holiday. Perhaps it's because of the geographical location. I lived just a few hours from Gobbler's Knob, where the pomp and circumstance could never be more than on a bleak winter's morning when the whole town (plus a few thousand crazy drunk college kids) gather around a tree stump to waking the sleeping rodent. Once you leave the immediate zone, Gobbler's Knob, Phil, and the whole deal are pretty much insignificant. In grade school in PA we made groundhog puppets and sang songs about Phil and his shadow. I am pretty sure the kids of North Carolina didn't do the same. So, while the distance factor probably plays a part in the lack of interest in G.H.D., I would also place bets that the climate has something to do with it. In North Carolina, on February 2nd chances are, shadow or not, we will NOT be having 6 more weeks of winter. That is the main reason that I moved to this lovely state. Phil's predictions are null and void when spring usually pops up by mid March. There is something beautiful about knowing that daffodils and warm weather is but several weeks away. No, it won't be flip-flop season just yet, but the sounds of birds chirping and the sight of buds on the trees is enough to hold me until I can break out the bathing suit. Ironically, it seems funny that the indigenous PA folks who follow the furry guy and his weather predictions should know that chances are, shadow or not, that they are DEFINITELY in store for 6 more weeks of winter (at least). Many an April in PA have seen snow flurries and blustery winter weather. In fact, I recall a Mother's Day with snow. So, whether Phil sees his shadow (which he generally does), or he doesn't, or whether you live under the Carolina blue sky, or the Pittsburgh gray sky, we should embrace this noble weatherman who makes February 2nd just a little more fun.

Welcome to 2010

Hello 2010! Hard to believe that you are here. I mean, wasn't it yesterday I was ringing in 2000 listening to the Vengaboys and the ever so timely, Will2K by Will Smith? Yes, I was at Scott Pearson's house with a gaggle of gays, most of which were theatre majors from Point Park. We had jello shots and a whole bottle of Ice 101 ready for consumption. I think that shortly after midnight there was an in-concert performance of Les Miserables in his game room. Come to think of it, that pretty much describes every Saturday night of my life circa 1999-2001. Time really has gone by quite quickly, but thankfully I have come out of my fag-hag closet and taken to heterosexual men in addition to the gays. For a period of time my brother was really fearful that I was going to turn into Kathy Griffin. Happy to say that while a few of my favorite men in this world do happen to be gay, I also have a few other favorite men who aren't exfoliating their skin each night and obsessing over Lady Gaga.

So, I have declared that 2010 be "the year of common sense". 2007 was deemed "the year of the stripper"--mostly due to the fact that it seemed every rap and hip-hop artist and song was about strippers, stripping, and some form of pole performance. It also happened to be the year that my friends and I took a liking to the breakfast buffet at the Uptown Cabaret after nights on the town. It seemed scrambled eggs and lap dances made for a great way to end the night. The following year, 2008 was titled "the year of the lollipop" for precisely the same reason. Well, let me clarify...because of the music, not because my friends and I were counting the licks to the center of the tootsie pop. Thank you Lil Wayne and Three Six Mafia for regenerating the popularity of a whimsical childhood candy. 2009 was "the year of the black male". The biggest events of this year revolved around Barack Obama, Michael Jackson, Kanye West, and Tiger Woods. For me, 2010 will be the year of common sense. I can't really say that the whole world of rappers, politicians, and athletes will abide by this idea, but for me it works. And clearly, no matter what it is for me, for the Chinese it will be the year of the chee-tah...oh, I'm sorry I meant Tiger.

Anyhow, it seems that right now the world needs us all to employ some common sense. I plan on utilizing common sense in several ways. By using reusable grocery bags, I plan to be environmentally conscientious. I have a collection of about 40 of them, but I frequently forget to take them to the store. I have already put a handful into my car so that I have no excuses. I plan on making many more meals at home to avoid excess spending on eating at restaurants. I will also be reassessing my finances to hopefully cut out some unnecessary expenses--starting with my car insurance, which I have just learned is insanely high for absolutely no reason. No more tanning membership. No more tanning period---common sense tells me that it causes premature aging and skin cancer. No more Net Flix---I watch one movie a month and pay for this service that I never use. No more trips to Target out of boredom. I probably give Target about 1/4 of each pay check; and as much as I LOVE the convenience of buying wine, groceries, deodorant, a new book, and a pair of pajamas all at once, the spending has got to stop. Of course with common sense also comes the fitness side of things, so I will be eating smaller portions and healthier meals as well as throwing in some exercise too. And lastly, I intend to use common sense in my personal life much more so than I might have during the 'year of the lollipop', or the stripper, or even at times, the black male. I have spent a lot of energy and put a lot of emotion into people who weren't worth it. No more will I do that. No more will I will things that just simply shouldn't be and fixate on things that I cannot have. I am going to try very hard to use my past experiences as a lesson in order to move forward. Welcome 2010, year of common sense. I think that Kanye and Tiger might also benefit from adopting some common sense in the coming year as well. Happy New Year!